Pakamac

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1763 Comments

Pakamac
Pakamac
Year: 1953
Views: 685,958
Item #: 1089
everyone needs a Pakamac. Gents models from 17/6 - Ladies models from 10/6 ...but make sure it is a Pakamac. The original "Raincoat in your pocket"...
Source: Picture Post. May 16, 1953

Comment by: Brian Humphries on 15th November 2017 at 11:16

"Stories", your comment is irresistible, and when I am in full command of my entire computer resources once more, I will take you up on your offer. But I have a feeling I know you already..........

Comment by: Brian Humphries on 10th November 2017 at 17:58

"Stories", your comment is irresistible, and when I am in full command of my entire computer resources once more, I will take you up on your offer. But I have a feeling I know you already..........

Comment by: Stories on 9th November 2017 at 15:31

In the past there used to be many comments here about proper Pakamac plastic rainwear, and I thought that some of you may like to know, that over some years now, I have written and recorded several episodes, books and audio files on that subject...
So if any of your would like to know more, please contact me at pakamac@mail.com.
I promise this is not spam or anything, and I would love to share my thoughts about such things.
Pakamac.

Comment by: Jeff on 1st November 2017 at 13:50

Hi Brian, Have you ever thought of opening a museum where you could exhibit your huge collection of macs ? I would be a regular visitor. Entry restricted to mackintoshed visitors only, of course.

Comment by: Brian Humphries on 30th October 2017 at 19:40

Kendal are certainly "in the news"! I have fond memories of our Birmingham Bull Ring branch, and I still have all those see-through jelly jackets. Some were made by Kendal themslves, whilst the rest were manufactured by Pakamac, albeit when fashioned in Taiwan.
Mention of Kendal makes me remember other retail outlets which I used regularly in the 1980s-Faiman, Richards, Etam, to name but a few. And then there was the late, great C & A, with their wonderful ranges at such reasonable prices. I bought my Adrina nylon mac from there, one of my most prized items. I could write a book about this pakamac alone-another "waterproof love story" yet to come. Watch this space!
And, yes, Gareth, I have retained all my items, which currently number 950+. The reason for this large tally is down to Susie Boult, of the former Plastique Unique. She maintains she had 1500 items, and if she can do it, so can I! Susie is one of my waterproof mentors, and her Galleries on the Plastique Unique website are an inspiration to us all. They are also proof that there are genuine female rainwear enthusiasts, they just need tracking down.

Comment by: Chris on 27th October 2017 at 15:52

Hi Jeff I did buy the macs from. KENDAL remeber my wife saying it was a good make and they felt quality and very exciting the plastic was a transparent and one had like a print on it if I remember correctly think the shop was called the Rubber Shop such a long time ago sadly regards

Comment by: Jeff on 23rd October 2017 at 15:56

If it's the same Kendal that had a shop in Pontypridd in the late 1970's then I certainly remember them and the lovely see-through plastic poncho that I bought there; I still have it today although it's gone yellowy.

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment on my macs. Any chance of some details of the plastic macs you bought ?

Comment by: G on 23rd October 2017 at 11:43

Hi Brian good to hear from you often think when passing Birmingham on the M6 of you and the wonderful collection of macs you have what is the count to date?

Comment by: Brian Humphries on 22nd October 2017 at 21:08

Gareth has mentioned Kendal. I once bought several see through plastic jelly jackets from them, in one go, and the girl asked me if I was going on a boating trip! We all have our own, unique waterproof experiences, our own waterproof Love Stories, to adapt those Tesco advertisements.

Comment by: Chris on 22nd October 2017 at 15:46

Hi G I bought a couple of Rainstar macs for my late wife they were fantastic macs also some transparent plastic macs my favourite yours sound great Jeff if you are reading this

Comment by: G on 9th October 2017 at 14:38

Hi does anybody remember the nylon macs made by Kendal then some time later the Rainstar nylon mac happy days

Comment by: Jeff on 4th October 2017 at 11:01

Hi G,
We stayed in a cottage close to Aberaeron and went into Aberaeron a couple of times and New Quay. Very enjoyable.

Comment by: G on 2nd October 2017 at 15:20

Hi Jeff sounds like you have had enjoyed a good break was it Aberaeron you went to in West Wales

Comment by: Jeff on 24th September 2017 at 18:38

Well, my see-through plastic mac certainly had some use over the past fortnight ! Wore it for most of the day on Sunday in Ambleside and Coniston and also a lot of the time on a Hebridean island, followed by a wet day in West Wales. Now looking forward to a couple of days in Blackpool to top it off.

Jeff

Comment by: G on 15th September 2017 at 11:43

Hi Susan what a wonderful collection of macs you have I also love PVC macs and them black macs you have must be difficult for you to decide what mac to wear that's great

Comment by: Susan on 14th September 2017 at 08:18

Having bought six nylon macs, one PVC Mack and eight plastic macs this year, an onlooker may well describe this period of time as period of almost a resurgence! OK, it's not the hay-day Pakamac years but with Amazon, eBay and the pvc-u-like offerings plus the Rainmac sale, I'm certainly celebrating.

This year, I discovered black EVA plastic macs. I'm hooked. OK, no lovely plastic aroma but the weight, sound, feel and look is fabulous.

Comment by: Rob on 8th September 2017 at 18:22

Hi Jeff. It is nice to hear about your holiday. Wherever you are going in the lake district and then Scotland I am sure you will have a nice time. I think you are right you might have a lot of rain especially on sunday but it sounds like you are prepared for it and so hopefully you can sill have a nice time even if it rains all the time! And if you like gardens there are some really lovely ones in Scotland.

Comment by: Susan on 7th September 2017 at 11:03

G. The macs I saw were hooded unisex ones

Comment by: Jeff on 7th September 2017 at 11:02

Hi Rob,

We are off to the Lake District on Saturday and then on to Scotland. According to the weather forecast I will be wearing my plastic mac most of the time.

Comment by: Jeff on 7th September 2017 at 10:59

Hi G, the sight of your teacher in her plastic mac obviously remains very clear in your mind as does my memory of my sister in her pale blue translucent plastic mac which had a matching belt and a matching concertina style rain bonnet with ties that were tied under the chin. Happy days.

Comment by: G on 6th September 2017 at 15:22

Hi Susan are the plastic macs you have seen in Edinburgh like the ones you wearing in your photo or are they them unisex ones regards G

Comment by: Susan on 5th September 2017 at 08:50

If anyone is visiting Edinburgh, it's always a good idea to look in the tourist shops on the Royal Mile. I've seen plastic macs on sale there quite recently.

Those memories of Blackpool remind me of all the plastic macs in shops in Skegness. The Lake District was always goood for plastic macs. So was Aberdeen a long time ago.

Comment by: Rob on 4th September 2017 at 17:53

Hi Jeff my wife's mac is clear but as you said it is semi see through. If you are going to Wales, the lake district and then Scotland I think you are right you will probably need yours.

Comment by: G on 4th September 2017 at 11:06

Hi Jeff good to hear from you I have had a thing for macs since infant school a teacher came to school in a transparent one and I have been hooked ever since it takes a exceptional understanding women to accept it and they are very rare you are lucky

Comment by: Jeff on 3rd September 2017 at 12:04

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the reply. Your wife's plastic mac sounds nice; may I ask what colour it is ? My friend sent me a photo of the packaging of the macs he has ordered and, although they are unisex, it shows a photo of a lady wearing a clear see-through mac. It didn't occur to me that they may be black. We are off to Scotland with them soon so I should be able to let you know. My wife and I are also going to the Lake District and New Quay, west Wales over the next few weeks so I am expecting my plastic macs to get some use.

Yes, it's a shame that we don't see plastic macs for sale in the shops these days. I used to particularly enjoy being taken to Blackpool when I was young and most shops would stock them and many would hang them outside on display, flapping in the wind; a lovely sight.

MY wife never really liked plastic macs but tolerated them for my sake. Like most women, I suppose she feels comfortable wearing what other women are also wearing, not wanting to be classed as "odd".

Regards,
Jeff.

Comment by: Jeff on 3rd September 2017 at 11:44

Hello G, I certainly consider myself extremely lucky that my wife tolerated macs for about 15 years or more, As you say, I did get accused of liking macs more than her. I accept that women are unable to understand how strong the attraction to macs can be. However, I had this fascination from a very early age and it has never left me.

Jeff.

Comment by: Rob on 2nd September 2017 at 14:10

Hi Jeff yes my wifes plastic mac is basically transparent but it doesn't look completely see through when its on so I think semi see through is a really good way of saying it thank you. My black Go mac is probably like your friends one. We are the same as you really we like them because it is easy to fold them up and just carry them and put them on when it starts to rain. It sounds like you have really needed yours on your holidays! I wonder why your wife doesn't like hers anymore. my wife wears hers a lot when it is raining and a lot of ladies ask her where she got it. It is a shame you cant buy them in the shops like you used to but perhaps you can still buy them in wales. Thank you for your nice comment it was nice to hear about your holidays perhaps you can write some more about them. We went on a railway when we were in Porthmadog two weeks ago and it really rained on us that day as well.

Comment by: G on 1st September 2017 at 11:19

Hi Jeff twelve years was a good run my wife got fed up of macs after only two years I separated now most women would say is it me or the mac do you want or complain they are hot and sweaty think you have been lucky Jeff

Comment by: Jeff on 31st August 2017 at 11:18

Hello G,

I confessed my liking for plastic macs to my wife early in our courtship and she had no problem with it. After about 12 years of marriage she became less tolerant. She would rather me not wear my see-through mac when we are out in the rain but I enjoy it so much.

Jeff.

Comment by: G on 30th August 2017 at 19:53

Hi Jeff good to hear from you passed your area today on my way to Swansea didn't see any one wearing a plastic mac sadly may I ask what does your wife make of your love of plastic macs?